Sorcerer’s Handbook

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Chains coiled around the Redeemed like venomous snakes, and everyone’s complexion turned exceedingly grim. With a single speech, Fernand Snow had evenly distributed the hatred.

By now, everyone fully understood Ashe’s intention—the damned escapee wanted them to reveal those closely guarded political secrets, to expose their ‘slight abuses of power’ to the eyes of all the citizens of the city, even dragging into the light those beings that should not be mentioned!

Why hasn’t the Sin Hunter’s Hall arrived yet? Why hasn’t the Broadcast Station cut the live feed? What in the world are the Church and Research Institute thinking?!

They looked at each other, suddenly reaching a consensus—stop talking, any more words would only incite the anger of the citizens. Better to remain silent and stall for time until the Sin Hunter’s Hall arrived to interrupt the broadcast.

But not everyone was willing to abide by this unspoken agreement. For instance, the former leader of the violent gang ‘Gluttonous Serpent’, the orc Quiven, was about to lose his composure.

Compared to those councilors and operators whose ‘evil’ was less obvious and who maintained a distance, Quiven was undeniably the ‘villain’ most accessible and familiar to the public.

Without any external interference, Quiven was undoubtedly going to be the ‘popular candidate’ in this Blood Moon Tribunal. And the greatest advantage of a scoundrel was that he would never miss an opportunity to drag others down with him.

“The ‘Dragon’s Den Apartments Case’ from three years ago—Fernand Snow was no small contributor!” the orc bellowed. “Has everyone forgotten? Dragon’s Den Apartments forcefully bought properties from owners at high prices and rented them out to tenants at low rates, rapidly expanding their reach. They dominated not just the rental market of Kaimon City but even took over those in cities like Feimeng and the Outer Seas.”

“But Dragon’s Den Apartments paid homeowners monthly, yet collected one to two years’ worth of rent from tenants, thus absorbing a substantial amount of capital. Everyone knew it was a ticking time bomb, but turned a blind eye, even fueling the situation! Fernand Snow had the Government Affairs Hall issue ‘Guidelines for Financial Innovation,’ allowing commercial banks to offer ‘rental loans’ and other new services, burdening renters with debt to funnel money into Dragon’s Den Apartments! In this matter, Fernand Snow is inescapable, but theoretically, he did nothing wrong.”

“Why do I know this so well? Because I too own a commercial bank and took the opportunity to issue a large number of low-amount loans to prime customers like students and new workers.”

“And as far as I know, a member of the Forest Gallery also operates a commercial bank!”

The sound of chains sliding drew a heavy breath from the ogre.

He knew everything would proceed exactly as the indifferent Observer next to him had planned, and more sadly, he had to hasten the process until the public’s rage burned everyone to the ground.

“Andrei,” Fernand Snow said. “Thanks to your efforts, Moon Sugar was legalized in Kaimon City in 1662. Sugar makers moved from the underground to legitimate businesses, and the largest sugar company, ‘Eternal,’ founded the Eternal Wine Club the following year. Although you were caught and brought here, the Eternal company continues to produce Moon Sugar, and at every moment, countless people fall into illusions because of it.”

Just a few words caused Andrei’s Pillar to erupt into chaos, as countless shackles coiled around the middle-aged Scholar like tentacles.

His face turned dark, knowing he had stirred the public’s anger.

As an addictive substance, Moon Sugar is banned in most parts of the Blood Moon Kingdom, with the exception of a few cities like Kaimon where it is legalized.

While many have a sweet tooth, even more people dislike Moon Sugar. Almost every citizen has encountered harassment by ‘Sugar Addicts,’ whether on the streets, in restrooms, during university lectures, or at the cinema. The sharp increase in serious crimes caused by ‘Sugar Addicts’ has deepened the public’s aversion.

Andrei doesn’t feel he’s in the wrong, because under the ‘Freedom of Human Rights Act,’ no adult of any race can be prevented from consuming Moon Sugar. The crimes that arise from Sugar consumption are another matter entirely.

However, serious crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the Sin Hunter’s Hall, not the council; everyone has different performance assessment criteria. Andrei and his peers don’t need to worry about the crime surge caused by the legalization of Moon Sugar.

Since everyone has the right to consume sugar, Moon Sugar continues to be in demand despite attempts to ban it.

Given that prohibition is ineffective, it might as well be transformed into a formal industry. At least taxes can be collected, and without violent gangs marking up prices, Sugar Addicts can access cheaper sugar, creating a world where no one gets hurt—except the ordinary citizens.

But if Moon Sugar were to be banned strictly and Sugar Addicts arrested, the Human Rights Association would have something to say, and the Racial Rights Association wouldn’t stand by idly. After all, Goblins, Orcs, and Ogres—three races with naturally high drug and poison resistance—benefit more from consuming Moon Sugar, suffering little to no withdrawal symptoms. Regular consumption can even improve their focus and work efficiency.

For Ogres in particular, Moon Sugar is almost an essential commodity for oil painting, more important than paint itself.

The proposal to legalize Moon Sugar wasn’t passed solely because of Andrei’s personal agenda; it was a consensus reached by the council based on the local situation in Kaimon City, benefitting all parties involved.

Ordinary people can’t really complain, because they’re the ones who elected the councilors.

This is the essence of elite politics.

However, public resentment towards the Moon Sugar Act has been growing by the day. Under normal circumstances, resentment would just grow, but during the Blood Moon Tribunal, resentment truly bites.

“You really are something, Fernand Snow,” said Andrei. “Now the public’s anger is directed at me.”

“Andrei, your understanding of literature is too poor. Displacement of anger implies directing one’s rage at an unrelated party, but you are the main councilor who proposed the legalization of Moon Sugar. This isn’t displacement; this is retribution,” the Ogre sneered.

Andrei sighed, “Does it have to be this way?”

“If you’re willing to sacrifice yourself to protect everyone, then this game will end with you,” Fernand Snow replied indifferently.

Andrei looked around and saw the hopeful eyes of his subordinates. He turned to glance at Ashe, who was watching from the edge of the terrace, his eyes filled with profound sadness.

“We, a group of self-proclaimed geniuses, are being played by a mere death row inmate…” He said with a bitter smile, “What an ugly spectacle.”

“Let me put an end to all of this.”

The Ogre looked somewhat surprised, while the others let out sighs of relief, their faces showing the joy of surviving a catastrophe.

“Arandor Fernand Snow!”

Just then, Andrei let out a roar.

“If there’s anyone here who deserves to die, it can only be you—you’re the one who let the innocent citizens of Kaimon City fall victim to the attacks of sorcerers from the Outer Realm during the ‘422 Incident’!”

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